Air cooled cage design

ABSTRACT

Presented herein are optical module cage designs and heatsink configurations for improved air cooling of pluggable optical modules disposed within the optical module cages. The designs and configurations presented herein facilitate efficient air cooling of higher power pluggable optical modules by enhancing airflow through the optical module cages, increasing contact between the optical modules and the heatsinks, and/or increasing the heatsink dissipation surface area.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/964,793, filed on Jan. 23, 2020, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to cages for pluggable optical module.

BACKGROUND

As power density in optical modules continues to increase, opticalmodules used in various systems and network equipment are becoming moredifficult to cool. Data rates supported by optical modules haveincreased, which has led to an increase in energy consumption by theoptical modules. This in turn results in greater heat dissipation fromthe optical modules. As demand rises for even higher data rates, aircooling pluggable optical modules with conventional cage designs hasbecome more and more challenging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic front view of a conventional opticalmodule cage in a 2×1 stacked configuration with riding heatsinks.

FIG. 1B illustrates a schematic rear view of the conventional opticalmodule cage illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C illustrates a schematic side view of the conventional opticalmodule cage illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a faceplate including three ofthe conventional optical module cages illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a pluggable optical module and the associatedheat dissipating components within the pluggable optical module.

FIG. 4A illustrates a schematic front view of an optical module cage ina 2×1 stacked configuration with riding heatsinks, according to anexample embodiment.

FIG. 4B illustrates a schematic rear view of the optical module cageillustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C illustrates a schematic side view of the optical module cageillustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D illustrates a schematic top view of the optical module cageillustrated in FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A-5D illustrate views of the optical module cage illustrated inFIG. 4A and the series of perforations disposed on the optical modulecage illustrated in FIG. 4A in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a faceplate including three ofthe optical module cages illustrated in FIG. 4A, according to an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a faceplate including threemodified embodiments of the optical module cage illustrated in FIG. 4A,according to an example embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate top views of the lower heatsink and connectorof the optical module cage illustrated in FIG. 4A, in accordance withexample embodiments.

FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate front views of the heatsinks of the opticalmodule cage illustrated in FIG. 4A, where the heatsinks have fins thatextend in opposing directions, in accordance with example embodiments.

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate schematic front views of the heatsinks of theoptical module cage illustrated in FIG. 4A, where the lower heatsinksare substantially H-shaped, in accordance with example embodiments.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B illustrate front views of the heatsinks ofthe optical module cage illustrated in FIG. 4A, where the heatsinks aresubstantially U-shaped, in accordance with example embodiments.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate schematic front views of the heatsinks ofthe optical module cage illustrated in FIG. 4A, where each opticalmodule socket contains three riding heatsinks, in accordance withexample embodiments.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate schematic top views of optical module cageshaving a substantially T-shape cross-section, according to anotherexample embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates a schematic top view of an optical module cagehaving a substantially cross shaped cross-section, according to anotherexample embodiment.

FIG. 17A illustrates a perspective front view of an optical module cagein a 2×1 stacked configuration with riding heatsinks, where the lowerriding heatsink extends through the sidewalls of the optical modulecage, in accordance with another example embodiment.

FIG. 17B illustrates an isolated perspective view of the lower ridingheatsink illustrated in FIG. 17A, in accordance with an exampleembodiment.

FIG. 17C illustrates a schematic front view of the optical module cageillustrated in FIG. 17A, in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic side view of the heatsinks of theoptical module cage illustrated in FIG. 17A, where the optical modulecage is used with an angled faceplate in accordance with an exampleembodiment.

FIGS. 19A-19D illustrates schematic front views of additional exampleembodiments of the heatsinks of the optical module cage illustrated inFIG. 17A, where the lower riding heatsink extends through the sidewallsof the optical module cage.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Overview

Presented herein are mechanisms and cage designs for improving the aircooling of pluggable optical modules disposed within optical modulecages. The mechanisms presented herein enable efficient air cooling ofhigher power pluggable optical modules by enhancing airflow (e.g., ratesand/or patterns) through optical module cages and using multipleconfigurations that maximize heatsink contact with the pluggable opticalmodules and increase the heat dissipating surface area of the heatsink.

In one embodiment, an optical module receptacle assembly includes areceptacle cage and at least one socket region disposed within thereceptacle cage. The receptacle cage may have at least a front face, afirst sidewall, a second sidewall and a rear face that collectivelydefine an interior cavity. Furthermore, the receptacle cage may have afirst width that spans between the first sidewall and the secondsidewall. The at least one socket region may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage, and may be configured to receivean optical module that is inserted into the receptacle cage through thefront face of the receptacle cage. The at least one socket region,moreover, may have a second width that is smaller than the first width.Thus, a first airflow passageway and a second airflow passageway may bedisposed within the receptacle cage, where the first airflow passagewaymay be defined by the first sidewall and the module when the module isdisposed within the at least one socket region, and the second airflowpassageway may defined by the second sidewall and the module when themodule is disposed within the at least one socket region.

In another embodiment, an optical module receptacle assembly may includea receptacle cage, at least one socket region disposed within thereceptacle cage, a first airflow passage disposed within the receptaclecage, and a second airflow passage disposed within the receptacle cage.The receptacle cage may include at least a front face, a first sidewall,a second sidewall, and a rear face that collectively define an interiorcavity. The at least one socket region may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage, and may be configured to receivean optical module that is inserted into the receptacle cage through thefront face of the receptacle cage. The first airflow passage may bedisposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage such that thefirst airflow passage may be disposed between the first sidewall of thereceptacle cage and the at least one socket region. Furthermore, thefirst airflow passage may span from the front face of the receptaclecage toward the rear face of the receptacle cage. The second airflowpassage may be disposed within the interior cavity of the receptaclecage such that the second airflow passage may be disposed between thesecond sidewall of the receptacle cage and the at least one socketregion. The second airflow passage may also span from the front face ofthe receptacle cage toward the rear face of the receptacle cage.

In yet another embodiment, an optical module receptacle assembly mayinclude a receptacle cage, at least one socket region, and a heatsink.The receptacle cage may have at least a front face, a first sidewall, asecond sidewall, and a rear face that collectively define an interiorcavity. Furthermore, the receptacle cage may have a first width thatspans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The at leastone socket region may be disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage and may be configured to receive an optical module thatis inserted into the receptacle cage through the front face of thereceptacle cage. The at least one socket region may have a second widththat is smaller than the first width. In addition, the heatsink may alsobe disposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage such thatthe heatsink may be disposed proximate to the at least one socketregion. Thus, the heatsink may be disposed within the interior cavity ofthe receptacle cage such that the heatsink may be in abutment with anoptical module that is disposed within the at least one socket region.Furthermore, the heatsink may have a third width that is larger than thesecond width of the at least one socket region.

Example Embodiments

Illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic views of a conventional opticalmodule cage 100 in a 2×1 configuration. The conventional optical modulecage 100 includes a front side 102, a rear side 104, a first side 106, asecond side 108, a top side 110, and a bottom side 112 that collectivelydefine an interior cavity 114. Disposed within the interior cavity 114is a first module socket region 120 and a second module socket region130, where the first and second module socket regions 120, 130 are openat the front side 102 of the cage 100, and extend along the first andsecond sides 106, 108 to a host-board connector 140 disposed within theinterior cavity 114 of the cage 100 proximate to the rear side 104. Thehost-board connector 140 may be, in some embodiments, a Quad SmallForm-Factor Pluggable-Double Density (hereinafter “QSFP-DD”) host-boardconnector for connecting/interfacing QSFP-DD optical modules withelectronic components, including, but not limited to, a printed circuitboard (hereinafter “PCB”) 150 upon which the cage 100 is disposed.Optical modules may be inserted through the front side 102 of the cage100 such that the optical modules are disposed in one of the two socketregions and connected to the host-board connector 140.

Continuing with the conventional optical module cage illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1C, the conventional optical module cage 100 may furtherinclude multiple riding heatsinks 160, 170. As illustrated, the upperriding heatsink 160 is disposed on the top side 110 of the cage 100, andmay be capable of at least partial abutment with an optical moduledisposed within, or plugged into, the first module socket region 120.The lower riding heatsink 170 may be disposed between the first modulesocket region 120 and the second module socket region 130, and may becapable of at least partial abutment with an optical module disposedwithin, or plugged into, the second module socket region 130.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the optical module cage 100 mayhave a width W1, which may be the dimensional spacing between the firstand second sidewalls of the first and second sides 106, 108 of the cage100. Moreover, the first and second module socket regions 120, 130, andthe riding heatsinks 160, 170 may all have the same width, width W1, asthat of the cage 100. The connector 140 may have a width W2 that issmaller than the width W1 of the cage 100, the first and second modulesocket regions 120, 130, and the riding heatsinks 160, 170, but thewidth W2 of the connector 140 may be large enough that when theconnector 140 is disposed within the interior cavity 114 of the cage100, the connector 140 spans a majority of the width W1 between thefirst and second sides 106, 108 of the cage 100 (i.e., the width W2 isminimally smaller than the width W1). As illustrated in FIG. 1C, thecage 100 may also have a length L1, which is the dimensional spacing ofthe front side 102 from the rear side 104.

Continuing with FIGS. 1A-1C, the cage 100 may be further equipped withperforations 180, 182, 184. As shown in FIG. 1A, a first set ofperforations 180 may be disposed in the front side 102 proximate to thelocation of the lower heatsink 170 to promote airflow through the lowerheatsink 170 to cool the second socket region 130. As shown in FIG. 1B,a second set of perforations 182 may be disposed along the sides andalong the top of the rear side 104 of the cage 100. In other words, thesecond set of perforations 182 may be located along the border of therear side 104 of the cage. The second set of perforations 182 may beconfigured to allow air that is capable of flowing around the connector140 to flow out of the rear side 104 of the cage 100. Because theconnector 140 takes up such a large portion of the width W1 of the cage100, and because the connector 140 is disposed within the interiorcavity 114 of the cage 100 in such proximity to the rear side 104 of thecage 100, the second set of perforations 182 are only disposed along theborder of the rear side 104 of the cage 100 because cooling air does nottravel directly behind the connector 140. Furthermore, due to these cage100 and connector 140 width dimensions, the connector 140 inhibits theflow of air through the entire length of the cage 100 and limits theamount of cooling air traveling out of rear side 104 of the cage 100,especially for cooling air flowing along the lower riding heatsink 170.As further shown in FIG. 1C, a third set of perforations are located onthe second side 108 of the cage 100 in the sidewall of the cage 100 tofacilitate air traveling through the interior cavity 114 of the cage 100to exit the interior cavity 114 of the cage 100 prior to reaching theconnector 140. While not illustrated, the first side 106 of the cage 100may be substantially similar to the second side 108 of the cage 100 suchthat the first side 106 of the cage 100 also includes a set ofperforations in the sidewall that are substantially similar to the thirdset of perforations 184 and located in a substantially similar location.

The conventional module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C was inventedto enable up to a 36×400 Gb/s data rate in a 1 Rack Unit (RU) faceplate.Turning to FIG. 2, and with continued reference to FIGS. 1A-1C,illustrated is an example schematic front view of a portion of afaceplate 200 with three conventional optical module cages 100. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the cages 100 are spaced from one another alongthe faceplate 200 such that interstitial gaps 210 are disposed betweeneach of the cages 100. Moreover, the faceplate 200 has a height that isgreater than the height of the cages 100 such that an upper gap 220 isdisposed between the top of the faceplate 200 and the top side 110 ofthe cages 100. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the faceplate 200 maycontain a series of perforations 230 that are disposed across thefaceplate 200 such that the series of perforations 230 are oriented infront of the interstitial gaps 210 and the upper gap 220.

With the conventional optical module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1Cand the faceplate 200 illustrated in FIG. 2, air passes through theseries of perforations 230. A portion of the air may flow through theinterstitial gaps 210 and the upper gap 220, while another portion ofthe air may enter the cage 100 via the first set of perforations 180.The air that enters through the upper gap 220 may flow through the upperriding heatsink 160 to cool a pluggable module disposed within the firstmodule socket region 120. The air that flows into the first set ofperforations 180 may flow through the lower riding heatsink 170 to coola pluggable module disposed within the second module socket region 130.However, as previously explained, because of cage 100 and connector 140width dimensions, the connector 140 inhibits the flow of air through thelower riding heatsink 170 by forcing the air to flow through slim slotson the sides of the connector 140 (i.e., between the sidewall of thefirst side 106 of the cage 100 and the connector 140, and between thesidewall of the second side 108 of the cage 100 and the connector 140).The portion of the cooling air flowing through the interstitial gaps 210may displace any heat that has transferred through the sides 106, 108 ofthe cage 100.

The conventional optical module cage 100 is generally designed to coolpluggable modules that use approximately 8 W-15 W of power. As mentionedpreviously, power used by pluggable optical modules has increased overtime as the data rates handled by the pluggable optical modules continueto increase. For example, a Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP)optical module may have dissipated 2.5 W of power when employed, butQSFP-DD optical modules are capable of consuming more than 20 W of powerwhen employed. Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of aQSFPP-DD optical module 300 and the heat generating internal componentsof the QSFP-DD optical module 300. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the QSFP-DDoptical module 300 includes a first end 310 and a second end 320.Disposed within the QSFP-DD optical module 300 may be a plurality ofcomponents 330, 332, 334 that are capable of generating heat duringoperation of the optical module 300. While FIG. 3 illustrates that theQSFP-DD optical module 300 contains three components 330, 332, 334capable of generating heat, other pluggable optical modules may containany number of heat generating internal components. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, the first component 330 may be disposed moreproximate to the first end 310 of the QSFP-DD optical module 300 thanthe second end 320 of the QSFP-DD optical module 300. Conversely, thesecond component 332 may be disposed more proximate to the second end320 of the QSFP-DD optical module 300 than the first end 310 of theQSFP-DD optical module 300. The third component 334 may be disposedbetween the first component 330 and the second component 332. For theQSFP-DD optical module 300 embodiment illustrated, the first component330 may generate approximately 30% of the total power output by themodule 300 when it is employed, the second component may generateapproximately 20% of the total power output by the module 300 when it isemployed, and the third component may generate approximately 50% of thetotal power output by the module 300 when it is employed. The embodimentof the QSFP-DD optical module 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 may be capableof generating a total power output that is over ten times the amount ofpower generated by the pluggable modules in which the conventionaloptical module cages 100 were designed to cool.

An example embodiment of an improved optical module cage capable ofadequately cooling optical modules that handle increased data rates andoutput large amounts of heat (i.e., QSFP-DD optical modules) isillustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, and shown generally as reference numeral400. Like the conventional optical module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS.1A-1C, the optical module cage 400 illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D is in a2×1 configuration, and includes a front side 402, a rear side 404, afirst side 406, a second side 408, a top side 410, and a bottom side412. The sides 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 of the cage 400 collectivelydefine an interior cavity 414 of the cage 400. Disposed within theinterior cavity 414 is a first module socket region 420 and a secondmodule socket region 430, where the first and second module socketregions 420, 430 are open at the front side 402 of the cage 400, andextend along the first and second sides 406, 408 to a host-boardconnector 440 disposed within the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400.The first and second module socket regions 420, 430 may be configured toreceive pluggable optical modules such as, but not limited to, QSFP-DDoptical modules. The host-board connector 140 may be, in someembodiments, a QSFP-DD host-board connector for connecting/interfacingQSFP-DD optical modules with electronic components, including, but notlimited to, a printed circuit board (hereinafter “PCB”) 450 upon whichthe cage 400 is disposed. Optical modules may be inserted through thefront side 402 of the cage 400 such that the optical modules aredisposed in one of the two module socket regions 420, 430 and connectedto the host-board connector 440.

Continuing with FIGS. 4A-4D, the optical module cage 400 may furtherinclude multiple riding heatsinks 460, 470. As illustrated, the upperriding heatsink 460 is disposed on the top side 410 of the cage 400, andmay be capable of at least partial abutment with an optical moduledisposed within, or plugged into, the first module socket region 420.The lower riding heatsink 470 may be disposed between the first modulesocket region 420 and the second module socket region 430, and may becapable of at least partial abutment with an optical module disposedwithin, or plugged into, the second module socket region 430. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the upper riding heatsink 460 may have abase 462 and a series of fins 464 that extend vertically from the base462. Similarly, the lower riding heatsink 470 may have a base 472 and aseries of fins 474 that extend vertically from the base 472.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4D, the optical module cage 400may have a width W3, which may be the dimensional spacing between thefirst and second sidewalls of the first and second sides 406, 408 of thecage 400. This width W3 of the optical module cage 400 may be largerthan the width W1 of the conventional optical module cage 100illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. As further illustrated in FIGS. 4A and4B, the riding heatsinks 460, 470 may have the same width W3 as the cage400. More specifically, the bases 462, 472 of the riding heatsinks 460,470, respectively, have the same width W3 (i.e., the bases 462, 472 ofthe riding heatsinks 460, 470, respectively, span from the first side406 of the cage 400 to the second side 408 of the cage 400). Moreover,while the cage 400 may have an increased width of W3 when compared tothe conventional optical module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, thefirst and second module socket regions 420, 430 may still have a widthW1, and the connector 440 may still have a width W2, both of which aresmaller than the width W3 of the cage 400. The increased width of theriding heatsinks 460, 470 enables the heatsinks 460, 470 to moreefficiently cool the optical modules in which the riding heatsinks 460,470 are in abutment with because cooling air passes over a greatersurface area of the heatsinks 460, 470, which allows the ridingheatsinks 460, 470 to dissipate a greater amount of heat.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4D, the increased width of thecage 400 also creates a series of airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486within the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400 in addition to thecentral airflow passageway 488 that is disposed between the first andsecond module socket regions 420, 430. The first airflow passageway 480may be disposed between the sidewall of the first side 406 of the cage400 and the first module socket region 420. In other words, when anoptical module is plugged into the first module socket region 420, thefirst airflow passageway 480 may be defined by the first side 406 of thecage 400, the optical module, the upper heatsink 460, and the lowerheatsink 470. The second airflow passageway 482 may be disposed betweenthe sidewall of the second side 408 of the cage 400 and the first modulesocket region 420. In other words, when an optical module is pluggedinto the first module socket region 420, the second airflow passageway482 may be defined by the second side 408 of the cage 400, the opticalmodule, the upper heatsink 460, and the lower heatsink 470. The thirdairflow passageway 484 may be disposed between the sidewall of the firstside 406 of the cage 400 and the second module socket region 430. Inother words, when an optical module is plugged into the second modulesocket region 430, the third airflow passageway 484 may be defined bythe first side 406 of the cage 400, the optical module, the lowerheatsink 470, and the bottom side 412 of the cage 400 or PCB 450. Thefourth airflow passageway 486 may be disposed between the sidewall ofthe second side 408 of the cage 400 and the second module socket region430. In other words, when an optical module is plugged into the secondmodule socket region 430, the fourth airflow passageway 486 may bedefined by the second side 408 of the cage 400, the optical module, thelower heatsink 470, and the bottom side (bottom) 412 of the cage 400 orPCB 450. In some embodiments, the first and third airflow passageways480, 484 may collectively define a single airflow passageway proximateto the first side 406 of the cage 400, while the second and fourthairflow passageways 482, 486 collectively define another single airflowpassageway proximate to the second side 408 of the cage 400. In otherembodiments, the series of airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 andthe central airflow passage 488 may be in fluid communication with oneanother.

The increased width of the cage 400 also increases the distance betweenthe sides of the connector 440 and the first and second sides 406, 408of the cage 400. This increased distance between the sides 406, 408 ofthe cage 400 and the connector 440 promotes an increased cooling airflowaround the connector 440. As best illustrated in FIG. 4B, a fifthairflow passageway 490 is disposed between the sidewall of the firstside 406 of cage 400 and the connector 440, while a sixth airflowpassageway 492 is disposed between the sidewall of the second side 408of cage 400 and the connector 440. Because the lower heatsink 470 onlyextends through the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400 from the frontside 402 to the connector 440, the first and third airflow passageways480, 484 both feed into the fifth airflow passageway 490, while thesecond and fourth airflow passageways 482, 486 both feed into the sixthairflow passageway 492. The increased width of the cage 400 promotes anincreased flow (e.g., flowrate, volume, etc.) through the interiorcavity 414 of the cage 400 and around the connector 440, which increasesthe cooling effect of the airflow across the heatsinks 460, 470 whencompared to the convention optical module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS.1A and 1B because the air can flow less inhibited through the interiorcavity 414 of the cage 400.

Turning to FIGS. 4C and 4D, and with continued reference to FIGS. 1A,1B, 1C, 4A, and 4B, the cage 400 may also have a length L2, which is thedimensional spacing of the front side 402 of the cage 400 to the rearside 404 of the cage 400. This length L2 of the cage 400 is larger thanthe length L1 of the conventional optical module cage 100 illustrated inFIG. 1C. Thus, as best illustrated in FIGS. 4C and 4D, the connector 440is spaced from the rear side 404 of the cage 400 by a seventh airflowpassageway 494. The fifth and sixth airflow passageways 490, 492 mayfeed into the seventh airflow passageway 494.

Turning to FIGS. 5A-5D, and with continued reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, thecage 400 may include a series of perforations that further improve theflow of cooling air through the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400. Asbest illustrated in FIG. 5A, the front side 402 of the cage 400 mayinclude a first set of perforations 500 disposed around the openings forthe module socket regions 420, 430. The first set of perforations 500may be configured to allow cooling air to flow into the interior cavity414 of the cage 400 such that the cooling air travels along the lowerriding heatsink 470 and into airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 tocool optical modules plugged into the first and second module socketregion 420, 430.

Furthermore, as best illustrated in FIG. 5B, the rear side 404 of thecage 400 may include a second set of perforations 510 that span across amajority, or the entirety, of the rear side 404 of the cage 400. Becausethe connector 440 is spaced from the rear side 404 of the cage 400 bythe seventh airflow passageway 494, and is spaced from the sides 406,408 by the fifth and sixth airflow passageways 490, 492, the cooling airis able to more efficiently and effectively flow around the connector440 via the fifth and sixth airflow passageways 490, 492 and into theseventh airflow passageway 494 behind the connector 440. This increasedairflow around and behind the connector 440 is then able to exit therear side 404 of the cage 400 via any one of the second set ofperforations 510 located on the rear side 404 of the cage 400. By notlimiting the plurality of perforations 510 to only around the border ofthe rear side 404 of the cage 400, like that of the perforations 182 ofthe conventional optical module cage 100, the increased flow of coolingair around and behind the connector 440 is further enhanced by having anincreased area through which the air is able to exit the interior cavity414 of the cage 400. In other words, by disposing the plurality ofperforations 510 across the majority, or entirety, of the rear side 404of the cage 400, the flow of cooling air through the cage 400 isincreased (e.g., flowrate, volume, etc.).

As further illustrated in FIGS. 5C and 5D, a third set of perforations520 and a fourth set of perforations 530 are disposed on the sidewallsof the first and second sides 406, 408 of the cage 400. The third set ofperforations 520 may be disposed along the length L2 of the first andsecond sides 406, 408 of the cage 400 at a location that is disposedbefore the connector 440, while the fourth set of perforations 530 maybe disposed along the length L2 of the first and second sides 406, 408of the cage 400 at a location that is disposed after the connector 440.Thus, the third set of perforations 520 disposed on the first side 406may be aligned with the first and third airflow passageways 480, 484,while the third set of perforations 520 disposed on the second side 408may be aligned with the second and fourth airflow passageways 482, 486.Furthermore, the fourth set of perforations 530 disposed on the firstside 406 may be aligned with the fifth airflow passageway 494 and/or theseventh airflow passageway 494, while the fourth set of perforations 530disposed on the second side 408 may be aligned with the sixth airflowpassageway 492 and/or the seventh airflow passageway 494. The third setof perforations 520 and the fourth set of perforations 530 may furtherenhance the airflow through the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400 byallowing a portion of the cooling air to flow out of the interior cavity414 prior to the connector 440, and a portion of the cooling air to flowout of the interior cavity 414 after passing by the connector 440, butprior to the second set of perforations 510 on the rear side 404 of thecage 400. The third and fourth sets of perforations 520, 530 providefurther outlets for the cooling air to flow out of the interior cavity414 of the cage 400, which, in addition to the second set ofperforations 510, further increases the flow (e.g., flowrate, volume,etc.) of cooling air through the cage 400.

The increased width W3 of the cage 400, which creates the airflowpassageways 480, 482, 484, 486, 490, 492, 494 within the interior cavity414 of the cage 400, combined with the sets of perforations 500, 510,520, 530 enable a greater amount of cooling air to flow through theinterior cavity 414 of the cage 400 when compared to the conventionaloptical cage 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C. This is especially true forcooling air that is configured to cool an optical module plugged intothe second module socket region 430 because the connector 440 and cage400 dimensions do not inhibit or limit flow of cooling air across thelower riding heatsink 470 and through the interior cavity 414 of thecage 400 like that of the conventional optical module cage 100. Thecombination of the increased width W3 of the cage 400, the increasedwidth W3 of the heatsinks 460, 470, the airflow passageways 480, 482,484, 486, 490, 492, 494 within the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400,and the sets of perforations 500, 510, 520, 530 may ensure that a highflowrate of cooling air flows through the cage 400, and may ensure thatQSFP-DD optical modules plugged into the cages 400 are able to besufficiently cooled by air.

Turning to FIG. 6, and with continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 4A-4D,illustrated is an example schematic front view of a portion of afaceplate 600 with three optical module cages 400. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the cages 400 are disposed adjacent to one another, or inabutment with one another, and are not spaced from one another along thefaceplate 600 by interstitial gaps like that of the conventional opticalmodule cages 100 disposed along the faceplate illustrated in FIG. 2.Because of the passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 in the cages 400, eventhough the cages 400 are adjacent to, or in abutment with, one another,the distance between the module socket regions 420, 430 of one cage 400and the module socket regions 420, 430 of another cage 400 areequivalent to the distance between the module socket regions 120, 130 ofthe conventional optical module cages 100. Thus, the interstitial gaps210 between the conventional cages 100 for the faceplate 200 areoccupied by the passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 in the cages 400 for thefaceplate 600. In addition, the cages 400 may be equivalent orsubstantially equivalent in height to the conventional optical modulecages 100, and thus, the faceplate 600 may have a height that is greaterthan the height of the cages 400 such that an upper gap 610 is disposedbetween the top of the faceplate 600 and the top side 410 of the cages400.

As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the faceplate 200 may contain a seriesof perforations 620 that are disposed across the faceplate 600 such thatthe series of perforations 620 enable cooling air to pass through thefaceplate 600 and enter the cages 400, where the cooling air may passover the heatsinks 460, 470 to indirectly cool the optical modulesdisposed within the module socket regions 420, 430, and may pass throughthe airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 to directly cool the opticalmodules disposed within the module socket regions 420, 430. Unlike theconventional optical module cages 100 and faceplate 200, where a largeportion of the cooling air flows through the interstitial gaps 210, andattempts to indirectly cool optical modules plugged into the cages 100through the sides 106, 108 of the cage 100, because the cages 400 areequipped with airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486, a portion of thecooling air that flows through the faceplate 600 may be in directcontact with at least a portion of the optical modules plugged into themodule socket regions 420, 430.

Turning to FIG. 7, and with continued reference to FIGS. 4A-4D and 6,illustrated is another schematic front view of a portion of a faceplate600 with three modified optical module cages 700. More specifically, theoptical module cages 700 may be substantially similar to the opticalmodule cages 400 illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, but for the fins 764, 774of the riding heatsinks 760, 770, respectively, illustrated in FIG. 7being larger in height (i.e., the fins 764, 774 extend farther from thebases 762, 772 of the riding heatsinks 760, 770, respectively). Becausethe fins 774 of the riding heatsink 770 are larger than thoseillustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, the spacing between the first module socketand the second module socket may be increased, which also increases theheight of the central airflow passageway. Thus, the overall height ofthe cages 700 is increased due to the increased height of the fins 764,774 of the riding heatsinks 760, 770 such that the cages 700 aresubstantially equivalent in height with the faceplate 600. When comparedto the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the upper gap 610 is nowoccupied by the fins 764 of the upper riding heatsink 760. Thus, theembodiment of the cages 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 utilizes nearly all ofthe cooling air that flows through the faceplate 600 to cool opticalmodules plugged into the cages 700.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 8A-13B, the optical module cages 400illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D may be further equipped with differentembodiments of the heatsinks 460, 470 and/or connector 440 that mayincrease the effectiveness of the cooling operation performed by theheatsinks 460, 470, that may utilize the airflow through the cage 400more efficiently, and/or that may increase the flowrate of the coolingair through the cage 400.

Illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and with continued reference to FIGS.4A-4D, illustrated are schematic top views of the lower riding heatsink470. More specifically, FIG. 8A illustrates an embodiment of the lowerriding heatsink 470, where the fins 474 of the lower riding heatsink 470are equipped with straight portions 800 that are disposed more proximateto the front end of the lower riding heatsink 470 (i.e., the end of theheatsink 470 that is disposed most proximate to the front side 402 ofthe cage 400) and angled portions 810 that are disposed more proximateto the rear end of the lower riding heatsink 470 (i.e., the end of theheatsink 470 that is disposed most proximate to the connector 440). Withthis embodiment of the lower riding heatsink 470, the straight portions800 of the fins 474 direct cooling air that enters the front side 402 ofthe cage 400 rearward towards the connector 440. When the cooling airreaches the angled portions 810 of the fins 474, the angled portions 810may direct the cooling air toward one of the sides 406, 408 of the cage400 and around the connector 440. The angled portions 810 of the fins474 of the heatsink 470 that are located more proximate to the firstside 406 of the cage 400 than the second side 408 of the cage 400 maydirect the cooling air to the fifth airflow passageway 490, while theangled portions 810 of the fins 474 of the heatsink 470 that are locatedmore proximate to the second side 408 of the cage 400 than the firstside 406 of the cage 400 may direct the cooling air to the sixth airflowpassageway 492. Thus, the angled portions 810 of the fins 474 of thelower riding heatsink 470 more efficiently direct the cooling air aroundthe connector 440 so that the connector 440 does not inhibit the flow ofair through the cage 400. The path of cooling air around the connector440 is shown in FIG. 8A with the arrows A.

FIG. 8B illustrates an embodiment of connector 440 where the connector440 is split between a first portion 820 and a second portion 830 thatare separated from one another via a central channel 840. The splitconnector 440 enables air to more easily flow into the front side 402 ofthe cage 400, through the interior cavity 414 of the cage 400, and outof the rear side 404 of the cage 400. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, thecooling air may flow along the fins 474 of the lower riding heatsink 470to the connector 440, where a portion of the cooling air flows aroundthe first portion 820 of the connector 440 into the fifth airflowpassageway 490, a portion of the cooling air flows around the secondportion 830 of the connector 440 into the sixth airflow passageway 492,and a portion of the cooling air flows through the central channel 840and directly to the seventh airflow passageway 494. Thus, the connector440 with split portions 820, 830 and a central channel 840 moreeffectively facilitate the flow of cooling air around the connector 440and to the rear side 404 of the cage 400. The path of the cooling airaround the connector 440 is shown in FIG. 8B with the arrows B.

It should be appreciated that the fins 474 of the lower riding heatsink470 may be of any shape or design that facilitates the direction ofcooling air around the connector 440. Moreover, it should also beappreciated that the connector 440 itself may contain any number ofchannels that facilitate the flow of cooling air around and through theconnector 440 and to the rear side 404 of the cage 400. Furthermore, afin design that directs the flow of cooling air over the lower ridingheatsink 470 may be coupled with a split connector 440 with one or morechannels to facilitate an even more efficient flow of cooling air aroundand through the connector 440.

Illustrated in FIGS. 9A-9C are schematic front views of the cages 400that are equipped with embodiments of the heatsinks 460, 470 thatcontain fins that extend both upwardly and downwardly from the bases462, 472 of the heatsinks 460, 470, respectively. More specifically, asillustrated in FIG. 9A, the upper riding heatsink 460 may contain fins464 that extend upwardly from the base 462, and a pair of fins 900 thatextend downwardly from the base 462, and into the first and secondairflow passageways 480, 482, respectively, such that the fins 900 aredisposed between the sides 406, 408 of the cage 400 and the first modulesocket region 420. Similarly, the lower riding heatsink 470 may containfins 474 that extend upwardly from the base 472 toward the upper ridingheatsink 460, and a pair of fins 910 that extend downwardly from thebase 472, and into the third and fourth airflow passageways 484, 486,respectively, such that the fins 910 are disposed between the sides 406,408 of the cage 400 and the second module socket region 430. Theplacement of the fins 900, 910 into the airflow passageways 480, 482,484, 486 enables the heatsinks 460, 470 to dissipate more heat away fromthe optical modules plugged into the module socket regions 420, 430.

As further illustrated in FIG. 9B, the upper riding heatsink 460 may befurther equipped with an increased number of fins 920 that descend fromthe base 462 into the first and second airflow passageways 480, 482,while the lower riding heatsink 470 may also be equipped with anincreased number of fins 930 that descend from the base 472 into thethird and fourth airflow passageways 484, 486. By increasing the numberof fins within the airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486, the amount ofheat that may be dissipated by the heatsinks 460, 470 is also increased.

In addition, FIG. 9C illustrates another embodiment of a cage 400equipped with an upper riding heatsink 460 that contains multiple fins920 that descend from the base 462 into the first and second airflowpassageways 480, 482, like that illustrated in FIG. 9B, but the lowerriding heatsink 470 may contain multiple fins 940 that descend from thebase 472 through the third and fourth airflow passageways 484, 486, andthrough channels 950 in the PCB 450. Thus, the fins 940 of the lowerriding heatsink 470 may be subjected to both a flow of cooling airwithin the cage 400 and a flow of cooling air below the PCB 450 and thecage 400 in order to dissipate more heat from an optical module pluggedinto the second module socket region 430.

Illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C are schematic front views of the cages 400that are equipped with embodiments of the lower riding heatsink 470 thathave a substantially H-shaped cross-section. As illustrated in FIG. 10A,the lower riding heatsink 470 may contain a first set of fins 474 thatascend or extend upwardly from the top of the base 472, a second set ofoutermost ascending fins 1000 that ascend or extend upwardly from thetop of the base 472 and are taller in height than the first set of fins474, and a third set of descending fins 1010 that extend downwardly ordescend from the base 472. In addition, the outermost ascending fins1000 are disposed more proximate to the first and second sides 406, 408of the cage 400 than the first set of fins 474, and are configured toextend upwardly into the first and second airflow passageways 480, 482such that the outermost ascending fins 1000 are disposed between thesides 406, 408 of the cage 400 and the first module socket region 420.The descending fins 1010 may extend downwardly from the base 472 andinto the third and fourth airflow passageways 484, 486 such that thedescending fins 1010 are disposed between the sides 406, 408 of the cage400 and the second module socket region 430. Thus, as illustrated, thelower riding heatsink 470 utilizes cooling air passing through airflowpassageways 480, 482, 484, 486 (i.e., via the outermost ascending fins1000 and the descending fins 1010) and cooling air passing through thearea between the module socket regions 420, 430 (i.e., via the fins 474)to dissipate heat from an optical module plugged into the second modulesocket region 420. The upper riding heatsink 460 primarily utilizescooling air passing over the top side 410 of the cage 400 (i.e., via thefins 464) to dissipate heat from an optical module plugged into thefirst module socket region 420.

As further illustrated in FIG. 10B, the lower riding heatsink 470 may beequipped with multiple outermost ascending fins 1020 that extendupwardly from the base 472 into the first and second airflow passageways480, 482, and multiple descending fins 1030 that descend from the base472 into the third and fourth airflow passageways 484, 486. Byincreasing the number of fins 1020, 1030 disposed within the airflowpassageways 480, 482, 484, 486, the amount of heat that may bedissipated by the lower riding heatsink 470 is increased.

In addition, FIG. 10C illustrates another embodiment of a cage 400equipped with a lower riding heatsink 470 that contains multipleoutermost ascending fins 1020 that extend upwardly from the base 472into the first and second airflow passageways 480, 482, like thatillustrated in FIG. 10B, but that also contains multiple descending fins1040 that descend from the base 472 through the third and fourth airflowpassageways 484, 486, and through channels 1050 in the PCB 450. Thus,the descending fins 1040 of the lower riding heatsink 470 may besubjected to both a flow of cooling air within the cage 400 and a flowof cooling air below the PCB 450 and the cage 400 in order to dissipatemore heat from an optical module plugged into the second module socketregion 430.

Illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A, and 12B are schematic front views ofthe cages 400 that are equipped with embodiments of the riding heatsinks460, 470 that have a substantially U-shaped cross-section. Asillustrated in FIG. 11A, the upper riding heatsink 460 includes ahorizontal base 462 and two descending base portions 1100, 1110 thatdescend from the horizontal base 462 on opposing sides of the firstmodule socket region 420. The first descending base portion 1100 extendsdownwardly from the horizontal base 462 through the first airflowpassageway 480 and along a first side of the first module socket region420, while the second descending base portion 1110 extends downwardlyfrom the horizontal base 462 through the second airflow passageway 482and along a second side of the first module socket region 420. Thus, thebase 462 and descending base portions 1100, 1110 give the upper ridingheatsink 460 a substantially inverted U-shape around the first modulesocket region 420. An optical module disposed within or plugged into thefirst module socket region 420 may be in abutment with the horizontalbase 462 and the two descending base portions 1100, 1110 of the upperriding heatsink 460. As further illustrated in FIG. 11A, a set ofascending fins 464 extend upwardly from the horizontal base 462, while afirst set of horizontal fins 1102 extend from the first descending baseportion 1100 toward the first side 406 of the cage 400, and while asecond set of horizontal fins 1112 extend from the second descendingbase portion 1110 toward the second side 408 of the cage 400.

Continuing with FIG. 11A, the lower riding heatsink 470 may besubstantially similar to the upper riding heatsink 460. As illustrated,the lower riding heatsink 470 also includes a horizontal base 472 andtwo descending base portions 1120, 1130 that descend from the horizontalbase 472 on opposing sides of the second module socket region 430. Thefirst descending base portion 1120 extends downwardly from thehorizontal base 472 through the third airflow passageway 484 and along afirst side of the second module socket region 430, while the seconddescending base portion 1130 extends downwardly from the horizontal base472 through the fourth airflow passageway 486 and along a second side ofthe second module socket region 430. Thus, the base 472 and descendingbase portions 1120, 1130 give the lower riding heatsink 470 asubstantially inverted U-shape around the second module socket region430. An optical module disposed within or plugged into the second modulesocket region 430 may be in abutment with the horizontal base 472 andthe two descending base portions 1120, 1130 of the lower riding heatsink470. As further illustrated in FIG. 11A, a set of ascending fins 474extend upwardly from the horizontal base 472 toward the first modulesocket region 420, while a first set of horizontal fins 1122 extend fromthe first descending base portion 1120 toward the first side 406 of thecage 400, and while a second set of horizontal fins 1132 extend from thesecond descending base portion 1130 toward the second side 408 of thecage 400.

In addition, FIG. 11B illustrates another embodiment of a cage 400equipped with riding heatsinks 460, 470 that have a substantiallyinverted U-shape like that illustrated in FIG. 11A. While the upperriding heatsink 460 illustrated in FIG. 11B is substantially similar tothe upper riding heatsink 460 illustrated in FIG. 11A, where the upperriding heatsink 460 contains the horizontal base 462 and two descendingbase portions 1100, 1110, the lower riding heatsink 470 illustrated inFIG. 11B differs from the lower riding heatsink 470 illustrated in FIG.11A. More specifically, the lower riding heatsink 470 illustrated inFIG. 11B may contain a horizontal base 472 and two descending baseportions 1140, 1150 that descend from the horizontal base 472 onopposing sides of the second module socket region 430, through the thirdand fourth airflow passageways 484, 486, respectively, and throughchannels 1160 in the PCB 450. The first descending base portion 1140 maycontain a first set of horizontal fins 1142, which are disposed withinthe third airflow passageway 484, and which extend toward the first side406 of the cage 400, and a second set of horizontal fins 1144 that aredisposed below the PCB 450 and the bottom 412 of the cage 400. Thesecond set of horizontal fins 1144 may further include fins that extendboth toward the first side 406 of the cage 400 and toward the secondside 408 of the cage 400. Similarly, the second descending base portion1150 may contain a first set of horizontal fins 1152, which are disposedwithin the fourth airflow passageway 486, and which extend toward thefirst side 408 of the cage 400, and a second set of horizontal fins 1154that are disposed below the PCB 450 and the bottom 412 of the cage 400.The second set of horizontal fins 1154 may further include fins thatextend both toward the first side 406 of the cage 400 and toward thesecond side 408 of the cage 400. The two descending base portions 1140,1150 of the lower riding heatsink 470, and their associated horizontalfins 1142, 1144, 1152, 1154, may be subjected to both a flow of coolingair within the cage 400 and a flow of cooling air below the PCB 450 andthe cage 400 in order to dissipate more heat from an optical moduleplugged into the second module socket region 430.

The substantially U-shaped heatsinks 460, 470 illustrated in FIGS. 11Aand 11B are configured to have a larger surface area that is in abutmentwith an optical module plugged into the module socket regions 420, 430,which enables the heatsinks 460, 470 to pull a larger amount of heataway from the optical modules, while also having a larger surface area(i.e., through the addition of the descending base portions 1100, 1110,1120, 1130, 1140, 1150 and their associated horizontal fins 1102, 1112,1122, 1132, 1142, 1144, 1152, 1154) in contact with a flow of coolingair in order to dissipate the heat pulled from the optical modulesplugged into the module socket regions 420, 430.

Turning to FIG. 12A, and with continued reference to FIG. 11A,illustrated is another embodiment of the cage 400 where the ridingheatsinks 460, 470 have a substantially inverted U-shape. Like thatillustrated in FIG. 11A, the upper riding heatsink 460 illustrated inFIG. 12A includes a horizontal base 462 and two descending base portions1200, 1210 that descend from the horizontal base 462 on opposing sidesof the first module socket region 420. The first descending base portion1200 extends downwardly from the horizontal base 462 through the firstairflow passageway 480, while the second descending base portion 1210extends downwardly from the horizontal base 462 through the secondairflow passageway 482. Thus, the base 462 and descending base portions1200, 1210 give the upper riding heatsink 460 a substantially invertedU-shape around the first module socket region 420. However, unlike theU-shaped upper riding heatsink 460 illustrated in FIG. 11A, thedescending base portions 1200, 1210 of the upper riding heatsink 460illustrated in FIG. 12A are spaced from the sides of the first modulesocket region 420 such that an optical module disposed within, orplugged into, the first module socket region 420 may only be in abutmentwith the horizontal base 462 of the upper riding heatsink 460. Asfurther illustrated in FIG. 12A, a set of ascending fins 464 extendupwardly from the horizontal base 462, while a first set of horizontalfins 1202 extend from both sides of the first descending base portion1200 (i.e., fins extend horizontally toward both the first and secondsides 406, 408 of the cage 400), and while a second set of horizontalfins 1212 extend from both sides of the second descending base portion1210 (i.e., fins extend horizontally toward both the first and secondsides 406, 408 of the cage 400).

Continuing with FIG. 12A, the lower riding heatsink 470 may besubstantially similar to the upper riding heatsink 460 illustrated inFIG. 12A. As illustrated, the lower riding heatsink 470 also includes ahorizontal base 472 and two descending base portions 1220, 1230 thatdescend from the horizontal base 472 on opposing sides of the secondmodule socket region 430. The first descending base portion 1220 extendsdownwardly from the horizontal base 472 through the third airflowpassageway 484, while the second descending base portion 1230 extendsdownwardly from the horizontal base 472 through the fourth airflowpassageway 486. Thus, the base 472 and descending base portions 1220,1230 give the lower riding heatsink 470 a substantially inverted U-shapearound the second module socket region 430. Unlike the U-shaped lowerriding heatsink 470 illustrated in FIG. 11A, the descending baseportions 1220, 1230 of the lower riding heatsink 470 illustrated in FIG.12A are spaced from the sides of the second module socket region 430such that an optical module disposed within, or plugged into, the secondmodule socket region 430 may be in abutment with only the horizontalbase 472. As further illustrated in FIG. 12A, a set of ascending fins474 extend upwardly from the horizontal base 472 toward the first modulesocket region 420, while a first set of horizontal fins 1222 extend fromboth sides of the first descending base portion 1220 (i.e., fins extendhorizontally toward both the first and second sides 406, 408 of the cage400), and while a second set of horizontal fins 1232 extend from bothsides of the second descending base portion 1230 (i.e., fins extendhorizontally toward both the first and second sides 406, 408 of the cage400).

In addition, FIG. 12B illustrates another embodiment of a cage 400equipped with riding heatsinks 460, 470 that have a substantiallyinverted U-shape like that illustrated in FIG. 12A. While the upperriding heatsink 460 illustrated in FIG. 12B is substantially similar tothe upper riding heatsink 460 illustrated in FIG. 12A, where the upperriding heatsink 460 contains the horizontal base 462 and two descendingbase portion 1200, 1210, the lower riding heatsink 470 illustrated inFIG. 12B may differ from the lower riding heatsink 470 illustrated inFIG. 12A. More specifically, the lower riding heatsink 470 illustratedin FIG. 12B may contain a horizontal base 472 and two descending baseportions 1240, 1250 that descend from the horizontal base 472 throughthe third and fourth airflow passageways 484, 486, respectively, andthrough channels 1260 in the PCB 450. The first descending base portion1240 may contain a first set of horizontal fins 1242 that extend fromboth sides of the first descending base portion 1240 within the thirdairflow passageway 484, and a second set of horizontal fins 1244 thatare disposed below the PCB 450 and the bottom 412 of the cage 400, andthat extend from both sides of the first descending base portion 1240.Similarly, the second descending base portion 1250 may contain a firstset of horizontal fins 1252 that extend from both sides of the seconddescending base portion 1250 within the fourth airflow passageway 486,and a second set of horizontal fins 1254 that are disposed below the PCB450 and the bottom 412 of the cage 400, and that extend from both sidesof the second descending base portion 1250. The two descending baseportions 1240, 1250 of the lower riding heatsink 470, and theirassociated horizontal fins 1242, 1244, 1252, 1254, may be subjected toboth a flow of cooling air within the cage 400 and a flow of cooling airbelow the PCB 450 and the cage 400 in order to dissipate more heat froman optical module plugged into the second module socket region 430.

The substantially U-shaped heatsinks 460, 470 illustrated in FIGS. 12A,12B are configured to have a larger surface area (i.e., through theaddition of the descending base portions 1200, 1210, 1220, 1230, 1240,1250 and their associated horizontal fins 1202, 1212, 1222, 1232, 1242,1244, 1252, 1254) in contact with a flow of cooling air in order to morequickly and efficiently dissipate the heat pulled from the opticalmodules plugged into the module socket regions 420, 430.

Illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic front views of the cages400 that are equipped with a group or a cluster of multiple heatsinksthat are disposed around each one of the module socket regions 420, 430.As illustrated in FIG. 13A, disposed around the first module socketregion 420 is a first cluster of riding heatsinks 1300, while a secondcluster of riding heatsinks 1310 are disposed around the second modulesocket region 430. The first cluster of riding heatsinks 1300 includesthe upper riding heatsink 460 disposed atop the first module socketregion 420, a first descending riding heatsink 1320 extending along afirst side of the first module socket region 420, and a seconddescending riding heatsink 1330 extending along a second side of thefirst module socket region 420. The upper riding heatsink 460 mayinclude the horizontal base 462 that spans from the first side 406 tothe second side 408 of the cage 400, and may include a set of upwardlyextending fins 464. The first descending riding heatsink 1320 may bedisposed within the first airflow passageway 480, and may include a base1322 that is disposed along a first side of the first module socketregion 420, and a set of fins 1324 that extend horizontally from thebase 1322 toward the first side 406 of the cage 400. Conversely, thesecond descending riding heatsink 1330 may be disposed within the secondairflow passageway 482, and may include a base 1332 that is disposedalong a second side of the first module socket region 420, and a set offins 1334 that extend horizontally from the base 1332 toward the secondside 408 of the cage 400. An optical module disposed within or pluggedinto the first module socket region 420 may be in abutment with each ofthe bases 462, 1322, 1332 of the riding heatsinks 460, 1320, 1330,respectively, of the first cluster of riding heatsinks 1300.

Continuing with FIG. 13A, the second cluster of riding heatsinks 1310may be substantially similar to first cluster of riding heatsinks 1300.As illustrated, the second cluster of riding heatsinks 1310 includes thelower riding heatsink 470 disposed atop the second module socket region430, a first descending riding heatsink 1340 extending along a firstside of the second module socket region 430, and a second descendingriding heatsink 1350 extending along a second side of the second modulesocket region 430. The lower riding heatsink 470 may include thehorizontal base 472 that spans from the first side 406 to the secondside 408 of the cage 400, and may include a set of upwardly extendingfins 474 that extend upwardly toward the first module socket region 420.The first descending riding heatsink 1340 may be disposed within thethird airflow passageway 484, and may include a base 1342 that isdisposed along a first side of the second module socket region 430, anda set of fins 1344 that extend horizontally from the base 1342 towardthe first side 406 of the cage 400. Conversely, the second descendingriding heatsink 1350 may be disposed within the fourth airflowpassageway 486, and may include a base 1352 that is disposed along asecond side of the second module socket region 430, and a set of fins1354 that extend horizontally from the base 1352 toward the second side408 of the cage 400. An optical module disposed within or plugged intothe second module socket region 430 may be in abutment with each of thebases 472, 1342, 1352 of the riding heatsinks 470, 1340, 1350,respectively, of the second cluster of riding heatsinks 1310.

In addition, FIG. 13B illustrates another embodiment of a cage 400equipped with a group or a cluster of multiple heatsinks that aredisposed around each one of the module socket regions 420, 430. Whilethe first cluster of riding heatsinks 1300 illustrated in FIG. 13B aresubstantially similar to the first cluster of riding heatsink 1300illustrated in FIG. 13A, the second cluster of riding heatsinks 1310illustrated in FIG. 13B may differ from the second cluster of ridingheatsinks 1310 illustrated in FIG. 13A. More specifically, the secondcluster of riding heatsinks 1310 illustrated in FIG. 13B may include thelower riding heatsink 470 disposed atop the second module socket region430, a first descending riding heatsink 1360 that extends along a firstside of the second module socket region 430, and a second descendingriding heatsink 1370 extending along a second side of the second modulesocket region 430. The first and second descending riding heatsinks1360, 1370 may extend along on opposing sides of the second modulesocket region 430, through the third and fourth airflow passageways 484,486, respectively, and through channels 1380 in the PCB 450. Thus, thefirst descending riding heatsink 1360 may be disposed primarily withinthe third airflow passageway 484, and may include a base 1362 that isdisposed along a first side of the second module socket region 430 andthat at least partially extends through the channel 1380 in the PCB 450.The first descending riding heatsink 1360 may further include a firstset of fins 1364 that extend horizontally from the base 1362 within thethird airflow passageway 484 toward the first side 406 of the cage 400,and a second set of fins 1366 that extend from both sides of the base1362 below the PCB 450 and the bottom 412 of the cage 400 (i.e., thesecond set of fins 1366 include fins that extend toward the first side406 of the cage 400 and fins that extend toward the second side 408 ofthe cage 400). Conversely, the second descending riding heatsink 1370may be disposed primarily within the fourth airflow passageway 486, andmay include a base 1372 that is disposed along a second side of thesecond module socket region 430 and that at least partially extendsthrough the channel 1380 in the PCB 450. The second descending ridingheatsink 1370 may further include a first set of fins 1374 that extendhorizontally from the base 1372 within the fourth airflow passageway 484toward the second side 408 of the cage 400, and a second set of fins1376 that extend from both sides of the base 1372 below the PCB 450 andthe bottom 412 of the cage 400 (i.e., the second set of fins 1376include fins that extend toward the first side 406 of the cage 400 andfins that extend toward the second side 408 of the cage 400). The twodescending riding heatsinks 1360, 1370 of the second cluster of ridingheatsinks 1310, and their associated horizontal fins 1364, 1366, 1374,1376, may be subjected to both a flow of cooling air within the cage 400and a flow of cooling air below the PCB 450 and the cage 400 in order todissipate more heat from an optical module plugged into the secondmodule socket region 430.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, the optical module cages 400illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D may be further optimized to maximize airflowthrough the cages 400, while providing increased structural integrity tothe cages 400.

Illustrated in FIG. 14, and with continued reference to FIGS. 4A-5D, isa schematic top view of an optical module cage 400 equipped with innerguide channels 1400, 1410. The first inner guide channel 1400 may bedisposed proximate to the front side 402 and the first side 406 of thecage 400, while the second inner guide channel 1410 may be disposedproximate to the front side 402 and the second side 408 of the cage 400.As illustrated in FIG. 14, the first inner guide channel 1400 may bedisposed within at least a portion of both the first and third airflowpassageways 480, 484. The first inner guide channel 1400 may include awall or barrier 1402 that has a first portion 1404 and a second portion1406. The first portion 1404 of the barrier 1402 extends longitudinallythrough the interior cavity 414 from the front side 402 of the cage 400,while the second portion 1406 of the barrier 1402 extends laterallythrough the interior cavity 414 between the first portion 1404 of thebarrier 1402 and the first side 406 of the cage 400. The portions 1404,1406 of the barrier 1402 collectively define, with the front side 402and the first side 406 of the cage 400, an interior region 1407 of thefirst inner guide channel 1400. A portion of the first set ofperforations 500 disposed on the front side 402 of the cage 400 mayenable cooling air to flow into the interior region 1407 of the firstinner guide channel 1400 through the front side 402 of the cage 400. Arearward set of perforations 1408 may be disposed on the second portion1406 of the barrier 1402 that enable cooling air to flow out of theinterior region 1407 of the first inner guide channel 1400, and throughthe remainder of the first and third airflow passageways 480, 484.

The second inner guide channel 1410 may be substantially similar to thefirst inner guide channel 1400, as the second inner guide channel 1410may be a mirror image of the first inner guide channel 1400. Asillustrated in FIG. 14, the second inner guide channel 1410 may bedisposed within at least a portion of both the second and fourth airflowpassageways 482, 486. The second inner guide channel 1410 may include awall or barrier 1412 that has a first portion 1414 and a second portion1416. The first portion 1414 of the barrier 1412 extends longitudinallythrough the interior cavity 414 from the front side 402 of the cage 400,while the second portion 1416 of the barrier 1412 extends laterallythrough the interior cavity 414 between the first portion 1414 of thebarrier 1412 and the second side 408 of the cage 400. The portions 1414,1416 of the barrier 1412 collectively define, with the front side 402and the second side 408 of the cage 400, an interior region 1417 of thesecond inner guide channel 1410. A portion of the first set ofperforations 500 disposed on the front side 402 of the cage 400 mayenable cooling air to flow into the interior region 1417 of the secondinner guide channel 1410 through the front side 402 of the cage 400. Arearward set of perforations 1418 may be disposed on the second portion1416 of the barrier 1412 that enable cooling air to flow out of theinterior region 1417 of the second inner guide channel 1410, and throughthe remainder of the second and fourth airflow passageways 482, 486.

As further illustrated in FIG. 14, the first and second inner guidechannels 1400, 1410 may be dimensioned such that the barrier 1402 offirst inner guide channel 1400 is spaced from the barrier 1412 of thesecond inner guide channel 1410 by a width W1, which is substantiallyequivalent to the width of the module socket regions 420, 430 and thewidth of the optical modules that may be plugged into the module socketregions 420, 430. While not illustrated, any riding heatsinks 460, 470disposed within the cage 400 illustrated in FIG. 14 may be substantiallyT-shaped, with a thinner width portion that is disposed between theinner guide channels 1400, 1410, and a wider width portion that isdisposed rearward from the inner guide channels 1400, 1410. Thus, theinner guide channels 1400, 1410 serve to guide the optical modules intoand through the module socket regions 420, 430, while still enabling theadditional air cooling functionality of the airflow passageways 480,482, 484, 486, and while still allowing for a portion of the ridingheatsinks to have an increased width.

Illustrated in FIG. 15, and with continued reference to FIGS. 4A-5D, isa schematic top view of an optical module cage 400 having multipleportions of differing widths such that the cage 400 has a top viewcross-section with a substantially T-shape. The cage 400 illustrated inFIG. 15 may have a first or front portion 1500 and a second or rearportion 1510. As illustrated, in the front portion 1500, the first side406 of the cage 400 may be spaced from the second side 408 of the cage400 by a width W1, which is substantially equivalent to the width of themodule socket regions 420, 430 and the width of the optical modules thatmay be plugged into the module socket regions 420, 430. Furthermore, inthe rear portion 1510 of the cage 400, the first side 406 of the cage400 may be spaced from the second side 408 of the cage 400 by a widerwidth W3, which is equivalent to the width W3 of the cage 400illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. The front portion 1500 may be oriented alongapproximately the first half of the length of the cage 400, while therear portion 1510 may be oriented along approximately the second half ofthe length of the cage 400. However, the front and rear portions 1500,1510 may extend or be oriented along any amount of the length of thecage 400 (e.g., the front portion 1500 may extend along approximately75% of the length of the cage 400, while the rear portion 1510 mayextend along approximately 25% of the length of the cage 400; the frontportion 1500 may extend along approximately 25% of the length of thecage 400, while the rear portion 1510 may extend along approximately 75%of the length of the cage 400; etc.).

Because the rear portion 1510 is wider than the front portion 1500, therear portion 1510 may be equipped with a first front face 1512 disposedproximate to the first side 406 of the cage 400, and a second front face1514 disposed proximate to the second side 408 of the cage 400. In theembodiment of the cage 400 illustrated in FIG. 15, the first and thirdairflow passageways 480, 484 may extend rearward from the first frontface 1512 to the fifth airflow passageway 490, while the second andfourth airflow passageways 482, 486 may extend rearward from the secondfront face 1514 to the sixth airflow passageway 492. A portion of thefirst set of perforations 500 may be disposed on the first front face1512 and the second front face 1514 so that cooling air may enter theinterior cavity 414 of the cage 400 and may travel through the airflowpassageways 480, 482, 484, 486.

While not illustrated, any riding heatsinks 460, 470 disposed within thecage 400 illustrated in FIG. 15 may be substantially T-shaped, with athinner width portion that is disposed in the front portion 1500 of thecage 400, and a wider width portion that is disposed in the rear portion1510 of the cage 400. Thus, because of the thinner width of the frontportion 1500, the front portion 1500 serves to guide the optical modulesinto and through the module socket regions 420, 430. Furthermore,because of the wider width of the rear portion 1510, the rear portion1510 enables the use of the airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 andallows for a portion of the riding heatsinks to have an increased width(i.e., an increased heat dissipating surface area). The perforations 500disposed on the front faces 1512, 1514 allow for additional cooling airto flow into the airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486.

Illustrated in FIG. 16, and with continued reference to FIGS. 4A-5D, isa schematic top view of an optical module cage 400 having multipleportions of differing widths such that the cage 400 has a top viewcross-section with a substantially cross shape. The cage 400 illustratedin FIG. 16 may have a first or front portion 1600, a second orintermediate portion 1610, and a third or rear portion 1620. Asillustrated, in the front portion 1600, the first side 406 of the cage400 may be spaced from the second side 408 of the cage 400 by a widthW1, which is substantially equivalent to the width of the module socketregions 420, 430 and the width of the optical modules that may beplugged into the module socket regions 420, 430. Furthermore, in theintermediate portion 1610, the first side 406 of the cage 400 may bespaced from the second side 408 of the cage 400 by the wider width W3,which is equivalent to the width W3 of the cage 400 illustrated in FIGS.4A-4D. In the rear portion 1620, the first side 406 of the cage 400 mayalso be spaced from the second side 408 of the cage 400 by the width W1.As illustrated, the front portion 1600 may be disposed proximate to thefront side 402 of the cage 400, the rear portion 1620 may be disposedproximate to the rear side 404 of the cage 400, and the widerintermediate portion 1610 may be disposed intermediate the front andrear portions 1600, 1620. Thus, the rear portion 1620 may be disposedproximate to the connector 440 of the cage 400.

Because the intermediate portion 1610 is wider than the front and rearportions 1600, 1620, and because the intermediate portion is disposedbetween the front and rear portions 1600, 1620, the intermediate portion1610 may be equipped with front faces 1612, 1614, and rear faces 1616,1618. The first front face 1612 and the first rear face 1616 may bedisposed proximate to the first side 406 of the cage 400, while thesecond front face 1614 and the second rear face 1618 may be disposedproximate to the second side 408 of the cage 400. In the embodiment ofthe cage 400 illustrated in FIG. 16, the first and third airflowpassageways 480, 484 may extend along the intermediate portion 1610between the first front face 1612 and the first rear face 1616, whilethe second and fourth airflow passageways 482, 486 may extend along theintermediate portion 1610 between the second front face 1614 and thesecond rear face 1618. A portion of the first set of perforations 500may be disposed on the first and second front faces 1612, 1614, while aportion of the second set of perforations 510 may be disposed on thefirst and second rear faces 1616, 1618 so that cooling air may enter theinterior cavity 414 of the cage 400 and travel through the airflowpassageways 480, 482, 484, 486. Because of the location of the rearportion 1620 and because of the thinner width of the rear portion 1620,the embodiment of the cage 400 illustrated in FIG. 16 does not containthe fifth and sixth airflow passageways 490, 492 around the connector440.

While not illustrated, any riding heatsinks 460, 470 disposed within thecage 400 illustrated in FIG. 16 may also be substantially cross shaped,with thinner width portions that are disposed in the front and rearportions 1600, 1620 of the cage 400, and a wider width portion that isdisposed in the intermediate portion 1610 of the cage 400. Moreover,because of the thinner width of the front portion 1600, the frontportion 1600 serves to guide the optical modules into and through themodule socket regions 420, 430. Furthermore, because of the wider widthof the intermediate portion 1610, the intermediate portion 1610 enablesthe use of the airflow passageways 480, 482, 484, 486 and allows for aportion of the riding heatsinks to have an increased width (i.e., anincreased heat dissipating surface area). The perforations 500, 510disposed on the faces 1612, 1614, 1616, 1618 of the intermediate portion1610 allow for additional cooling air to flow into the airflowpassageways 480, 482, 484, 486.

Another example embodiment of an improved optical module cage capable ofadequately cooling optical modules that handle increased data rates andoutput large amounts of heat (i.e., QSFP-DD optical modules) isillustrated in FIGS. 17A-17C, and shown generally at reference numeral1700. Like the conventional optical module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS.1A-1C, and the previously disclosed improved optical module cage 400illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, the optical module cage 1700 illustrated inFIG. 17A-17C is in a 2×1 stacked configuration, and includes a frontside 1702, a rear side 1704, a first side 1706, a second side 1708, atop side 1710, and a bottom side 1712. The sides 1702, 1704, 1706, 1708,1710, 1712 of the cage 1700 collectively define an interior cavity 1714of the cage 1700. Disposed within the interior cavity 1714 is a firstmodule socket region 1720 and a second module socket region 1730, wherethe first and second module socket regions 1720, 1730 are open at thefront side 1702 of the cage 1700, and extend along the first and secondsides 1706, 1708 to a host-board connector (not shown) disposed withinthe interior cavity 1714 of the cage 1700. The first and second modulesocket regions 1720, 1730 may be configured to receive pluggable opticalmodules such as, but not limited to, QSFP-DD optical modules. Thehost-board connector may be, in some embodiments, a QSFP-DD host-boardconnector for connecting/interfacing QSFP-DD optical modules withelectronic components, including, but not limited to, a PCB 1750 (shownin FIG. 17C) upon which the cage 1700 is disposed. Optical modules maybe inserted through the front side 1702 of the cage 1700 such that theoptical modules are disposed in one of the two module socket regions1720, 1730 and connected to the host-board connector.

Continuing with FIGS. 17A-17C, the optical module cage 1700 may furtherinclude multiple riding heatsinks 1760, 1770. As illustrated, the upperriding heatsink 1760 is disposed on the top side 1710 of the cage 1700,and may be capable of at least partial abutment with an optical moduledisposed within, or plugged into, the first module socket region 1720.The lower riding heatsink 1770 may be disposed between the first modulesocket region 1720 and the second module socket region 1730, and may becapable of at least partial abutment with an optical module disposedwithin, or plugged into, the second module socket region 1730. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17C, the upper riding heatsink 1760 mayhave a base 1762 and a series of fins 1764 that extend vertically fromthe base 1762.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 17B and 17C, the lower riding heatsink 1770may have a horizontal base 1772, a first vertical base 1774, and asecond vertical base 1776. The first vertical base 1774 may be coupledto a first end or first side of the horizontal base 1772, while thesecond vertical base 1776 may be coupled to a second end or second sideof the horizontal base 1772 such that the second vertical base 1776 isdisposed on an opposing side of the horizontal base 1772 from that ofthe first vertical base 1774. The first and second vertical bases 1774,1776 may be oriented parallel one another, and my extend both upwardlyand downwardly from the horizontal base 1772. Thus, as illustrated inFIGS. 17B and 17C, the lower riding heatsink 1770 has a substantiallyH-shaped cross-section. Moreover, a first series of fins 1778 may bedisposed on the horizontal base 1772 such that the first series of fins1778 extend vertically from the horizontal base 1772. A second series offins 1780 may be disposed on the first vertical base 1774 such that thesecond series of fins 1780 extend horizontally from the first verticalbase 1774 in a direction that is away from the second vertical base1776. A third series of fins 1782 may be disposed on the second verticalbase 1776 such that the third series of fins 1782 extend horizontallyfrom the second vertical base 1776 in a direction that is away from thefirst vertical base 1774.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17C, the first side 1706 of thecage 1700 may have a first slot or channel 1790, while the second side1708 of the cage 1700 may have a second slot or channel 1792. Moreover,the optical module cage 1700 may have a width W1, which is thedimensional spacing between the first and second sidewalls of the of thefirst and second sides 1706, 1708 of the cage 1700. This width W1 of theoptical module cage 1700 may be substantially equivalent to the width W1of the conventional optical module cage 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and1B. However, the lower riding heatsink 1770 may have a width W4 that iswider than the width W1 such that portions of the lower riding heatsink1770 are disposed outside of the interior cavity 1714 of the cage 1700.As best illustrated in the schematic front view of FIG. 17C, thehorizontal base 1772 extends through the slots 1790, 1792 in the sides1706, 1708, respectively, of the cage 1700, while the vertical bases1774, 1776 and their associated fins 1780, 1782, respectively, aredisposed outside of the interior cavity 1714 of the cage 1700.

The lower riding heatsink 1770 illustrated in FIGS. 17A-17C has anincreased surface area and may be subjected to cooling air that flowsboth through the interior cavity 1714 of the cage 1700 (i.e., that flowsover the horizontal base 1772 and its associated fins 1778) and aroundthe cage 1700 (i.e., that flows over the vertical bases 1774, 1776 andtheir associated fins 1780, 1782). With the lower riding heatsink 1770having a larger surface area and being subjected to multiple cooling airflows, the lower riding heatsink 1770 may be capable of dissipating moreheat from an optical module plugged into the second module socket region1720 than that of the lower riding heatsink 170 of the conventional cage100.

Turning to FIG. 18, and with continued reference to FIGS. 17A-17C,illustrated is an embodiment of the optical module cage 1700, where theriding heatsinks 1760, 1770 are modified to accommodate an angledfaceplate (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 18, a portion of the upperriding heatsink 1760 that is disposed proximate to the front side 1702of the cage 1700 includes an angled section 1800. In addition, the topend of a portion of the second vertical base 1776 of the lower ridingheatsink 1770 that is disposed proximate to the front side 1702 and topside 1710 of the cage 1700 may also include an angled section 1810.While not illustrated, the first vertical base 1774 disposed on thefirst side 1706 of the cage 1700 may be substantially similar to thesecond vertical base 1776 such that the first vertical base 1774 alsoincludes an angled section that is disposed proximate to the front side1702 and top side 1710 of the cage 1700.

Turning to FIGS. 19A-19D, and with continued reference to FIGS. 17A-17C,illustrated various embodiments of the riding heatsinks 1760, 1770 ofthe cage 1700 that achieve similar cooling effects for optical modulesdisposed within the module socket regions 1720, 1730. As illustrated inFIG. 19A, the first and second vertical bases 1774, 1776 of the lowerriding heatsink 1770 only extend downwardly, or descend, from the endsof the horizontal base 1772 of the lower riding heatsink 1770. Thus, theembodiment of the lower riding heatsink 1770 illustrated in FIG. 19A hasa substantially inverted U-shape. As illustrated in FIG. 19B, the firstand second vertical bases 1774, 1776 of the lower riding heatsink 1770only extend downwardly or descend from the ends of the horizontal base1772 of the lower riding heatsink 1770 like that illustrated in FIG.19A. However, the upper riding heatsink 1760 may also include first andsecond vertical bases 1900, 1910 that extend downwardly from the ends ofthe base 1762 of the upper riding heatsink 1760. Furthermore, eachvertical base 1900, 1910 of the upper riding heatsink 1760 may contain aset of horizontal fins 1902, 1912, respectively, like that of the lowerriding heatsink 1770. Thus, the embodiment of the riding heatsinks 1760,1770 illustrated in FIG. 19B may have a substantially inverted U-shape.

As illustrated in FIG. 19C, the first and second vertical bases 1774,1776 of the lower riding heatsink 1770 only extend upwardly or ascendfrom the ends of the horizontal base 1772 of the lower riding heatsink1770. Thus, the embodiment of the lower riding heatsink 1770 illustratedin FIG. 19C has a substantially U-shape. In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 19D, the first and second vertical bases 1774, 1776 of the lowerriding heatsink 1770 extend both upwardly and downwardly from the endsof the horizontal base 1772 of the lower riding heatsink 1770, but theupwardly extending portions of the vertical bases 1774, 1776 are alsocoupled to the base 1762 of the upper riding heatsink 1760. Thus, asillustrated in FIG. 19D, the upper riding heatsink 1760 and the lowerriding heatsink 1770 may be uniformly formed.

The embodiments presented herein provide optical module cage designswith optimized airflow thermal cooling capability for use with, forexample, existing standard optical modules. The embodiments describedherein include designs for cages and heatsinks that do not requireend-user modification. Because some network devices have increased thehorizontal, width, or X dimension, more space has been provided on thenetwork devices. By optimizing optical module cage and associatedheatsink design as described herein, the wider spacing between adjacentcages can be leveraged to improve cooling of the optical modules pluggedinto the cages. As previously explained, the creation of airflowpassageways extending through the interior of the cage enables coolingair to directly contact the sides of an optical module plugged into thecage, while eliminating a thermal interface with the sidewalls of thecage (i.e., instead of a module-to-case-to-air interface to cool thesides of the optical modules, the description and embodiments providedherein provide a module-to-air interface for cooling the opticalmodules). The airflow passageways also enable airflow to more easilypass around and behind the host-board connector, which allows for animproved flowrate of air through the optical module cage, especiallywith respect to the second module socket region (i.e., the lower modulesocket regions of a stacked cage).

It is to be understood that the optical module form factors describedherein are only examples and that the cages described herein may be usedwith other standard pluggable form factor modules or other existing orfuture pluggable optical module designs. It is to be further understoodthat while the example embodiments described herein illustrated a 2×1stacked configuration, the example embodiments may be utilized with anystacked or ganged cage configuration, and are not limited to only 2×1stacked configurations.

Furthermore, wider and larger heatsinks allow for an increased surfacearea and surface fin area, which results in better thermal cooling andheat dissipation of the modules. It is to be understood that variouscombinations of fin configurations and connector configurations may beused in conjunction in an optical module cage of the variousembodiments. It is also to be understood that an optical module cage foruse with multiple optical modules may be configured for use with thesame or different fin configurations and/or connector configurations forthe optical modules. For example, a heatsink(s) of a top optical modulefor an optical module cage may have the same or different finconfiguration as a heatsink(s) of a bottom optical module for theoptical module cage. As another example, a connector for a top opticalmodule for an optical module cage may have the same or differentconnector configuration as a bottom optical module for the opticalmodule cage.

In one embodiment, an optical module receptacle assembly includes areceptacle cage and at least one socket region disposed within thereceptacle cage. The receptacle cage may have at least a front face, afirst sidewall, a second sidewall and a rear face that collectivelydefine an interior cavity. Furthermore, the receptacle cage may have afirst width that spans between the first sidewall and the secondsidewall. The at least one socket region may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage, and may be configured to receivean optical module that is inserted into the receptacle cage through thefront face of the receptacle cage. The at least one socket region,moreover, may have a second width that is smaller than the first width.Thus, a first airflow passageway and a second airflow passageway may bedisposed within the receptacle cage, where the first airflow passagewaymay be defined by the first sidewall and the module when the module isdisposed within the at least one socket region, and the second airflowpassageway may defined by the second sidewall and the module when themodule is disposed within the at least one socket region.

This embodiment of the optical module receptacle assembly may furtherinclude a connector that is disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage proximate to the at least one socket region. Theconnected may be disposed within the interior cavity such that theconnector may at least partially receive a module that is disposedwithin the at least one socket region. The connector may have a thirdwidth that is equal to the second width of the at least one socketregion. The connector may be spaced from the rear face of the receptaclecage. Furthermore, a plurality of perforations may be disposed acrossthe rear face of the receptacle cage.

This embodiment of the optical module receptacle assembly may furtherinclude a heatsink disposed within the receptacle cage proximate to theat least one socket region. The heatsink may be disposed within theinterior cavity such that the heatsink is in abutment with a module thatis disposed within the at least one socket region. The heatsink may havea fourth width that is larger than the second width and the third width.In addition, the heatsink may include a base and a plurality of finsthat extend from the base. The plurality of fins may be shaped to directairflow traveling through the heatsink into the first airflow passagewayand the second airflow passageway, and may be shaped to direct theairflow around the connector.

The receptacle cage of this embodiment of the optical module receptacleassembly may be a stacked cage, the at least one socket region may be afirst socket region, and the module may be a first module where theoptical module receptacle assembly further includes a second socketregion that may be disposed within the interior cavity of the receptaclecage and may be disposed above the first socket region. The secondsocket region may be configured to receive a second module inserted intothe front face of the receptacle cage. Furthermore, the second socketregion may have a third width that is equal to the second width of thefirst socket region. The first airflow passageway may be further definedby the first sidewall of the receptacle cage, the first module whendisposed within the first socket region, and the second module whendisposed within the second socket region. Additionally, the secondairflow passageway may be further defined by the second sidewall of thereceptacle cage, the first module when disposed within the first socketregion, and the second module when disposed within the second socketregion. A central airflow passageway may be disposed between the secondsocket region and the first socket region. This embodiment of theoptical module receptacle assembly may further include a first heatsinkand a second heatsink. The first heatsink may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage proximate to the first socketregion such that the first heatsink is in abutment with the first modulewhen the first module is disposed within the first socket region. Thesecond heatsink may be disposed atop the receptacle cage proximate tothe second socket region.

In another embodiment, an optical module receptacle assembly may includea receptacle cage, at least one socket region disposed within thereceptacle cage, a first airflow passage disposed within the receptaclecage, and a second airflow passage disposed within the receptacle cage.The receptacle cage may include at least a front face, a first sidewall,a second sidewall, and a rear face that collectively define an interiorcavity. The at least one socket region may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage, and may be configured to receivean optical module that is inserted into the receptacle cage through thefront face of the receptacle cage. The first airflow passage may bedisposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage such that thefirst airflow passage may be disposed between the first sidewall of thereceptacle cage and the at least one socket region. Furthermore, thefirst airflow passage may span from the front face of the receptaclecage toward the rear face of the receptacle cage. The second airflowpassage may be disposed within the interior cavity of the receptaclecage such that the second airflow passage may be disposed between thesecond sidewall of the receptacle cage and the at least one socketregion. The second airflow passage may also span from the front face ofthe receptacle cage toward the rear face of the receptacle cage.

This embodiment of the optical module receptacle assembly may furtherinclude a connector disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage. The connector may be disposed proximate to the at leastone socket region such that the connector at least partially receivesthe module when the module is disposed within the at least one socketregion. The connector may be spaced from the rear face of the receptaclecage. In addition, the first airflow passage may be further disposedbetween the first sidewall and the connector, and the second airflowpassage may be further disposed between the second sidewall and theconnector. Furthermore, a plurality of perforations may be disposedacross the rear face of the receptacle cage. The receptacle cage of thisembodiment of the optical module receptacle assembly may have a lengthspanning from the front face to the rear face. The receptacle assemblymay further include at least one perforation disposed on a firstsidewall and at least one perforations disposed on the second sidewall.The at least one perforation disposed on the first sidewall may belocated at a position that is rearward of the connector along the lengthof the receptacle cage. The at least one perforation disposed on thesecond sidewall may be located at a position that is rearward of theconnector along the length of the receptacle cage.

This embodiment of the optical module receptacle assembly may furtherinclude a heatsink. The heatsink may be disposed within the receptaclecage proximate to the at least one socket region such that the heatsinkis in abutment with the module when the module is disposed within the atleast one socket region. The heatsink may include a base and a pluralityof fins. The base may extend at least partially into the first airflowpassage and at least partially into the second airflow passage. Theplurality of fins may extend from the base.

In yet another embodiment, an optical module receptacle assembly mayinclude a receptacle cage, at least one socket region, and a heatsink.The receptacle cage may have at least a front face, a first sidewall, asecond sidewall, and a rear face that collectively define an interiorcavity. Furthermore, the receptacle cage may have a first width thatspans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The at leastone socket region may be disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage and may be configured to receive an optical module thatis inserted into the receptacle cage through the front face of thereceptacle cage. The at least one socket region may have a second widththat is smaller than the first width. In addition, the heatsink may alsobe disposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage such thatthe heatsink may be disposed proximate to the at least one socketregion. Thus, the heatsink may be disposed within the interior cavity ofthe receptacle cage such that the heatsink may be in abutment with anoptical module that is disposed within the at least one socket region.Furthermore, the heatsink may have a third width that is larger than thesecond width of the at least one socket region.

The heatsink of this embodiment of the optical module receptacleassembly may further include a base and a plurality of fins. Theplurality of fins may extend from the base. In addition, the pluralityof fins may include a first set of fins that extend from the base in afirst direction and second set of fins that extend from the base in asecond direction that is opposite of the first direction.

The receptacle cage of this embodiment of the optical module receptacleassembly may be a stacked cage, the at least one socket region may be afirst socket region, the heatsink may be a first heatsink, and themodule may be a first module. This embodiment of the optical modulereceptacle assembly may further include a second socket region, a secondheatsink, and a central airflow passageway. The second socket region maybe disposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage above thefirst socket region. The second socket region may be configured toreceive a second module inserted into the front face of the receptaclecage. The second socket region may have a fourth width that is equal tothe second width of the first socket region. The second heatsink may bedisposed atop the receptacle cage proximate to the second socket region.The second heatsink may have a fifth width that is larger than thesecond width and the fourth width. The central airflow passageway may bedisposed between the first socket region and the second socket region.

The plurality of fins of the first heatsink may include a first set offins that extend from the base in a first direction and a first distancefrom the base, a second set of fins that extend from the base in thefirst direction and a second distance from the base, and a third set offins that extend from the base in a second direction and a thirddistance from the base. The third set of fins may be disposed betweenthe first socket region and the first and second sidewalls of thereceptacle cage. The second distance may be larger than the firstdistance such that the second set of fins are at least partiallydisposed between the second socket region and the first and secondsidewalls of the receptacle cage.

The heatsink of this embodiment of the optical module receptacleassembly may be U-shaped such that portions of the heatsink are disposedalong three sides of the at least one socket region.

In one embodiment, a receptacle assembly may include a receptacle cageand a heatsink. The receptacle cage may have a first sidewall and asecond sidewall that may define an interior cavity. The receptacle cagemay have a first width spanning between the first sidewall and thesecond sidewall. The heatsink may be at least partially disposed withinthe interior cavity of the receptacle cage. Moreover, the heatsink mayhave a second width that is greater than the first width of thereceptacle cage.

The receptacle cage of this embodiment of the receptacle assembly may bea stacked cage further includes a front face and a rear face. Thereceptacle assembly may include a first socket region and a secondsocket region. The first socket region may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage proximate to the front face ofthe receptacle cage. The second socket region may be disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage proximate to the front face ofthe receptacle cage. The second socket region being disposed above thefirst socket region within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage.The heatsink may be disposed between the first socket region and thesecond socket region. The heatsink may include a horizontal portion, afirst vertical portion, and a second vertical portion. The firstvertical portion may be coupled to a first side of the horizontalportion, and the second vertical portion may be coupled to a second sideof the horizontal portion. The heatsink may have an inverted U-shapesuch that the first vertical portion and the second vertical portion aredisposed outside of the interior cavity of the receptacle cage. Thefirst vertical portion and the second vertical portion may descend fromthe horizontal portion. Another embodiment of the heatsink may have anH-shape such that the first vertical portion and the second verticalportion are disposed outside of the interior cavity of the receptaclecage. The first vertical portion and the second vertical portion mayextend upwardly and downwardly from the horizontal portion. Yet anotherembodiment of the heatsink may further include a first set of fins thatextend vertically from the horizontal portion, a second set of fins thatextend horizontally from the first vertical portion, a third set of finsthat extend horizontally from the second vertical portion.

In an additional embodiment of the heatsink, the heatsink may include afirst horizontal portion disposed between the first socket region andthe second socket region, a second horizontal portion disposed above thesecond socket region and oriented parallel to the first horizontalportion, a first vertical portion coupled to a first side of the firsthorizontal portion and a first side of the second horizontal portion,and a second vertical portion coupled to a second side of the firsthorizontal portion and a second side of the second horizontal portion.

In another embodiment, a receptacle assembly may include a receptaclecage and a heatsink. The receptacle cage may have a plurality ofsidewalls that define an interior cavity. The heatsink may have a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion of the heatsink may beat least partially disposed within the interior cavity of the of thereceptacle cavity, and may extend through at least one of the sidewallsof the plurality of sidewalls of the receptacle cage. The second portionof the heatsink may be disposed outside of the receptacle cage.

For this embodiment of the receptacle assembly, the first portion of theheatsink may be oriented horizontally, and the second portion may beoriented vertically. The second portion may be coupled to a first end ofthe first portion. The heatsink may further include a third portion thatmay be oriented vertically. The third portion of the heatsink may becoupled to a second end of the first portion. The third portion of theheatsink may also be disposed outside of the receptacle cage. Theheatsink may further include a first plurality of fins, a secondplurality of fins, and a third plurality of fins. The first plurality offins may be disposed on the first portion of the heatsink. The secondplurality of fins may be disposed on the second portion of the heatsink.The third plurality of fins may be disposed on the third portion of theheatsink. The first plurality of fins of the heatsink may extend fromthe first portion of the heatsink in a vertical direction. The secondplurality of fins of the heatsink may extend from the second portion ofthe heatsink in a first horizontal direction. The third plurality offins of the heatsink may extend from the third portion of the heatsinkin a second horizontal direction. The second horizontal direction may beopposite the first horizontal direction.

In one embodiment of the heatsink, the heatsink may be U-shaped, wherethe second portion of the heatsink is parallel to the third portion. Inanother embodiment of the heatsink, the heatsink may be H-shaped, wherethe second portion is parallel to the third portion.

With this embodiment of the receptacle assembly, the first portion ofthe heatsink may be oriented horizontally and the second portion of theheatsink may be oriented vertically. The heatsink may further include athird portion that is oriented horizontally. The third portion of theheatsink may be coupled to the second portion. The third portion of theheatsink may be spaced from the first portion. The heatsink may alsoinclude a fourth portion that is oriented vertically. The fourth portionof the heatsink may be coupled to the first portion and the thirdportion. The fourth portion may be spaced from the second portion.

In yet another embodiment, a receptacle assembly may include areceptacle cage, at least one socket region, and a heatsink. Thereceptacle cage may have a front face, a first sidewall, a secondsidewall, and a rear face that define an interior cavity. The at leastone socket region may be disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage proximate to the front face of the receptacle cage.Furthermore, the heatsink may have a first portion and a second portion.The first portion of the heatsink may be in abutment with the at leastone socket region. The second portion of the heatsink may be disposedoutside of the interior cavity.

The receptacle cage of this embodiment of the receptacle assembly may bea stacked cage, the at least one socket region may be a first socketregion. The receptacle assembly may further include a second socketregion disposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage. Thesecond socket region may be disposed proximate to the front face of thereceptacle cage. The second socket region may be disposed above thefirst socket region within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage.The first portion of the heatsink may be disposed between the firstsocket region and the second socket region. In one embodiment of theheatsink, the second portion of the heatsink may extend along downwardlyfrom the first portion. In another embodiment of the heatsink, thesecond portion of the heatsink may extend upwardly and downwardly fromthe first portion.

The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presented forpurposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variationswill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminologyused herein was chosen to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application or technical improvement overtechnologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A receptacle assembly comprising: a receptaclecage having a front face, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and arear face that define an interior cavity, the receptacle cage having afirst width spanning between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;and at least one socket region disposed within the interior cavity ofthe receptacle cage and configured to receive a module inserted into tothe front face of the receptacle cage, the at least one socket regionhaving a second width, the second width being smaller than the firstwidth such that a first airflow passageway is defined by the firstsidewall and the module when the module is disposed within the at leastone socket region, and a second airflow passageway is defined by thesecond sidewall and the module when the module is disposed within the atleast one socket region.
 2. The receptacle assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising: a connector disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage proximate to the at least one socket region such thatwhen the module is disposed within the at least one socket region, themodule is at least partially received by the connector, the connectorhaving a third width that is equal to the second width of the at leastone socket region, the connector being spaced from the rear face of thereceptacle cage.
 3. The receptacle assembly of claim 2, furthercomprising: a plurality of perforations disposed across the rear face ofthe receptacle cage.
 4. The receptacle assembly of claim 3, furthercomprising: a heatsink disposed within the receptacle cage proximate tothe at least one socket region such that when the module is disposedwithin the at least one socket region, the heatsink is in abutment withthe module, the heatsink having a fourth width that is larger than thesecond width and the third width.
 5. The receptacle assembly of claim 4,wherein the heatsink further comprises: a base; and a plurality of finsextending from the base.
 6. The receptacle assembly of claim 5, whereinthe plurality of fins are shaped to direct airflow traveling through theheatsink into the first airflow passageway and the second airflowpassageway, and direct the airflow around the connector.
 7. Thereceptacle assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle cage is a stackedcage, the at least one socket region is a first socket region, and themodule is a first module, the receptacle assembly further comprising: asecond socket region disposed within the interior cavity of thereceptacle cage, disposed above the first socket region, and configuredto receive a second module inserted into to the front face of thereceptacle cage, the second socket region having a third width that isequal to the second width, wherein the first airflow passageway isfurther defined by the first sidewall of the receptacle cage, the firstmodule when disposed within the first socket region, and the secondmodule when disposed within the second socket region, and the secondairflow passageway is further defined by the second sidewall of thereceptacle cage, the first module when disposed within the first socketregion, and the second module when disposed within the second socketregion; and a central airflow passageway disposed between the secondsocket region and the first socket region.
 8. The receptacle assembly ofclaim 7, wherein the receptacle assembly further comprises: a firstheatsink disposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cageproximate to the first socket region such that when the first module isdisposed within the first socket region, the first heatsink is inabutment with the first module; and a second heatsink disposed atop thereceptacle cage proximate to the second socket region.
 9. A receptacleassembly comprising: a receptacle cage having a front face, a firstsidewall, a second sidewall, and a rear face that define an interiorcavity; at least one socket region disposed within the interior cavityof the receptacle cage and configured to receive a module inserted intoto the front face of the receptacle cage; a first airflow passagedisposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cage between thefirst sidewall and the at least one socket region, the first airflowpassage spanning from the front face toward the rear face of thereceptacle cage; and a second airflow passage disposed within theinterior cavity of the receptacle cage between the second sidewall andthe at least one socket region, the second airflow passage spanning fromthe front face toward the rear face of the receptacle cage.
 10. Thereceptacle assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a connector disposedwithin the interior cavity of the receptacle cage proximate to the atleast one socket region such that when the module is disposed within theat least one socket region, the module is at least partially received bythe connector, the connector being spaced from the rear face of thereceptacle cage.
 11. The receptacle assembly of claim 10, wherein thefirst airflow passage is further disposed between the first sidewall andthe connector, and wherein the second airflow passage is furtherdisposed between the second sidewall and the connector.
 12. Thereceptacle assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a plurality ofperforations disposed across the rear face of the receptacle cage. 13.The receptacle assembly of claim 10, wherein the receptacle cage has alength spanning from the front face to the rear face, the receptacleassembly further comprising: at least one perforation disposed on thefirst sidewall at a position that is rearward of the connector along thelength of the receptacle cage; and at least one perforation disposed onthe second sidewall at a position that is rearward of the connectoralong the length of the receptacle cage.
 14. The receptacle assembly ofclaim 9, further comprising: a heatsink disposed within the receptaclecage proximate to the at least one socket region such that the heatsinkis in abutment with the module when the module is disposed within the atleast one socket region, the heatsink comprising: a base that extends atleast partially into the first airflow passage and at least partiallyinto the second airflow passage; and a plurality of fins extending fromthe base.
 15. A receptacle assembly comprising: a receptacle cage havinga front face, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a rear face thatdefine an interior cavity, the receptacle cage having a first widthspanning between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; at leastone socket region disposed within the interior cavity of the receptaclecage and configured to receive a module inserted into to the front faceof the receptacle cage, the at least one socket region having a secondwidth, the second width being smaller than the first width; and aheatsink disposed within the interior cavity of the receptacle cageproximate to the at least one socket region such that the heatsink is inabutment with the module when the module is disposed within the at leastone socket region, the heatsink having a third width that is larger thanthe second width of the at least one socket region.
 16. The receptacleassembly of claim 15, wherein the heatsink further comprises: a base;and a plurality of fins extending from the base.
 17. The receptacleassembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of fins include a first setof fins that extend from the base in a first direction and second set offins that extend from the base in a second direction that is opposite ofthe first direction.
 18. The receptacle assembly of claim 16, whereinthe receptacle cage is a stacked cage, the at least one socket region isa first socket region, the heatsink is a first heatsink, and the moduleis a first module, the receptacle assembly further comprising: a secondsocket region disposed within the interior cavity of the receptaclecage, disposed above the first socket region, and configured to receivea second module inserted into to the front face of the receptacle cage,the second socket region having a fourth width that is equal to thesecond width; a second heatsink disposed atop the receptacle cageproximate to the second socket region, the second heatsink having afifth width that is larger than the second width and the fourth width;and a central airflow passageway disposed between the first socketregion and the second socket region.
 19. The receptacle assembly ofclaim 18, wherein the plurality of fins of the first heatsink include afirst set of fins that extend from the base in a first direction and afirst distance from the base, a second set of fins that extend from thebase in the first direction and a second distance from the base, and athird set of fins that extend from the base in a second direction and athird distance from the base such that the third set of fins aredisposed between the first socket region and the first and secondsidewalls of the receptacle cage, the second distance being larger thanthe first distance such that the second set of fins are at leastpartially disposed between the second socket region and the first andsecond sidewalls of the receptacle cage.
 20. The receptacle assembly ofclaim 15, wherein the heatsink is U-shaped such that portions of theheatsink are disposed along three sides of the at least one socketregion.